31 replies to this topic

[General_Zhaoyun]

I've found that oldish Roman philosophy is pretty similiar to 'Eastern' philosophy. The memoirs of Emperor... Marcus, I think, an exerp in the book 'The Origin of Satan'. His outlook on life/spirituality was oddly Buddhist

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Are you sure it's similar to Buddhism? Can you point out in what ways it's similar to Buddhism?

[TMPikachu]

Are you sure it's similar to Buddhism? Can you point out in what ways it's similar to Buddhism?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I haven't phrased it very well. Maybe not Buddhist specifically, but rather... just eastern thinking. I don't know enough specifically about the nuances of each belief, and I think it's unessicary to catagorize and seperate by these names as many had common themes.

I'm not sure how to describe it, but something about this line (amongst others) seemed familiar

it was along the lines of...
to hold a newborn in your hands, you whisper in his hear "today you live, but tommorow you may die". You know, back then, infants died from illness quite often.

He also believed in gods as human emotions and natural forces. Ares was not so much a person as he was anger, rage, arrogance. He saw himself, mankind, as just part of a... 'greater' system, in a way. You know, just a part of the greater whole of existence.
I think he also considered Christianity to be rather arrogant with their proclamantions of salvation and serving the one true greater being.
He ultimately wanted to attain 'elightenment' (not said that way, but that's pretty much what he wants). He wanted to come to a greater understanding of... just 'being'. He often mused about how life was full of suffering (alot of his writing was done while leading military expeditions)

I should dig out that book again to clarify what he said.